Sleep Tourism Is a Thing—and the Hotel Industry Has Taken Notice
From Hilton to Hyatt to Six Senses, hotel brands are accommodating stressed, overtired travelers with an array of amenities designed to promote sleep. Here’s how
Most vacations are meant to be restful, but with market research company HTF Market Intelligence forecasting that sleep tourism—defined as travel with a primary intention of catching Zzzs—will grow by nearly 8 percent (or more than $400 billion) by the year 2028, nothing seems too extraordinary for hotels, even if it means herding sheep to be counted by its bleary-eyed guests. (This hasn’t happened…yet.)
Beyond tried-and-true sleep masks, ear plugs, black-out shades and noise machines, new amenities range from the simple and convenient to the over the top. Hilton, for example, has partnered with wellness app Calm to provide travelers with guided meditations, narrated Sleep Stories, soothing soundscapes and mindfulness exercises that are streamed directly from in-room TVs with no subscription required.
Travelers with bigger budgets (or bigger bouts of insomnia) can enjoy trips dedicated entirely to the sleep travel trend. Park Hyatt New York is home to the Bryte Restorative Sleep Suite with an AI-powered smart bed that adjusts to pressure points and unique body contours, while the Conrad Bali offers its SWAY experience in which guests partake in 60-minute sleep therapy sessions while suspended in cocoon hammocks.
But when it comes to sleep being a part of a hotel group’s DNA, there is, perhaps, no brand that celebrates snoozing more than Six Senses. From personalized sleep trackers and expert consultations to rooms fitted with dream-friendly mattresses and eucalyptus-derived linens, the hospitality company works with renowned industry professionals to create an atmosphere that fosters slumber. Some properties also offer a meditative form of yoga called yoga nidra, holistic massages and nighttime soporific drinks with ingredients like tart cherry and pomegranate juice to help globetrotters unwind at the end of the day.
Should you prioritize shut-eye as much as seeing the sights, consider one of these options on your next trip. Upon your return, you’re sure to have friends, family members and even coworkers commenting on how well-rested you look.